That left Ukrainian world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Serbia’s Angelina Topi\u0107 with a share of bronze with a clearance of 1.97m.<\/p>\n
However, the 20-year-old Topi\u0107 had to wait over half an hour in the rain to see whether she would take a share of the bronze medal, with Mahuchikh attempting 2.02m as well, having passed following a first-up failure of 2.00m.<\/p>\n
“It’s bittersweet in a lot of ways,” Patterson said after sitting with Topi\u0107.<\/p>\n
“I was very proud that I was able to be a part of a moment with Angelina Topi\u0107.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Angelina Topi\u0107 claimed her first medal at a senior world championships. (AP Photo: Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n
“She had half an hour to wait to see whether Yaroslava cleared another bar as to whether she had a bronze medal.<\/p>\n
“I’m one of the older girls in the group and it was a moment where I could really be a big sister to her.<\/p>\n
“I get along with her really well and so to comfort her through that moment.<\/p>\n
“She was quite overwhelmed and not sure whether she was gonna retain that bronze medal, and so that was a beautiful moment for her.<\/p>\n
“I actually am, in some ways, happier that I didn’t jump 2 metres, so that she was able to have that moment and I was able to share it with her.<\/p>\n
“It was a beautiful moment of just humanity and sportsmanship.<\/p>\n
“It was so nice to be able to be there for someone through that.”<\/p>\n
Patterson and Topi\u0107 sheltered together under an umbrella while the second rain delay took place, the younger woman with her head on the Australian’s shoulder, an island of reassurance amidst a maelstrom of emotions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Angelina Topi\u0107 shared the medal with world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh. (AP Photo: Louise Delmotte)<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old former world champion was able to channel her own experiences into helping her young rival, having had a similar experience at the Paris Olympics last year.<\/p>\n
There, Patterson shared bronze with Ukraine’s Iryna Herashchenko.<\/p>\n
“Last year, I fell on the other side of things and came away with a bronze medal with 1.95 and, you know, had to wait that out,” she said.<\/p>\n
“So to see her go through that, having done last year, I felt blessed that she could come to me and that I could comfort her through that.<\/p>\n
“I think there’s so much beauty in even failure.<\/p>\n
“So I’m very happy that she was able to come with that bronze.”<\/p>\n
For Topi\u0107’s part, she was incredibly grateful for the Australian’s support through what she described as the toughest 3 hours of her life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Angelina Topi\u0107 paid credit to Eleanor Patterson for her support. (Reuters: Aleksandra Szmigiel)<\/p>\n
“In Paris [at the Olympics] I didn’t get a chance to show what I can do,” Topi\u0107 said,<\/p>\n
“I promised myself this time I would give everything I have in my body to try to win this.<\/p>\n
“It was very stressful. I cleared all my heights on the first attempt. It was mandatory for a medal to be won and after 1.97m, it started raining like crazy.<\/p>\n
“I still was ready for more, but unfortunately, I was not able to clear my personal best at this time, during this rain.<\/p>\n
“I was standing at second place after my failed attempts and quickly second became third. I was just landed next to Eleanor Patterson, I was crying like a baby, I don’t think I would have survived this without her.<\/p>\n
“I love her and thanks to her, I was OK.”<\/p>\n